Ask We’re All Someone’s Monster

[Song Wren]

Song had watched. She’d judged. But did she care?

As a former bounty hunter, she understood the lengths one had to go to earn and keep a reputation, and as a Mandalorian, she knew there was no room for mercy when it came to betrayal. The smoking hole in Geel’s head would serve as an example to others. And while Song may not have done the same in Valeska’s position, she wouldn’t have let the Quarren leave scot-free. If anything, she would have claimed a hand, maybe a leg, so that he understood just how serious she was. Let him live the rest of his miserable life in fear.

Or not at all, in Valeska’s case. Which was fine by Song.

She holstered her weapon and looked down at the two men keeled over on the ground. “You heard the woman. Beat it. Maybe find a profession that doesn’t involve suicide by Mandalorian.” They nodded before limping and crawling away, like rats fleeing a sinking ship, and back into the cesspool of Taris’ streets.

She turned to Valeska, armor glinting under the neon light of the city. “I have a ship waiting in the Seventh Yard. Should have everything we need. Unless you have any other business that needs handling, we can head for Scipio tonight and hash out our plans on the way. Deal?”

Song extended a hand. They hadn’t quite shaken on it yet, even if the Kryze had already agreed, but with the arrangement sealed, she could finally leave this planet behind. She had no intentions of returning, and a small part of her hoped Valeska would do the same. The Mandalorian deserved to do more than scrounging for credits, to live more than by the thrill of a bar fight. Val could be with her clan, as Song had done. Together, they could fight for Mandalore.

A silly thought, she knew, but hope always was.

@Mockingjay

 

[Valeska Kryze]

Val regarded the woman's extended hand. How long had it been since a fellow Mandalorian last extended their hand toward her like that? Too long. Maybe it was time to stop hiding from her father, her past. Taris was a shitty place to do that, anyways. But now wasn't the time to decide. She had a job to do, pay to collect, and that meant freezing her ass off on Scipio.

At least she'd have some interesting company for once.

Val stepped to meet Song, and when she stuck out her own hand, she didn't take Song's as might have been expected. Instead, she clasped the other Mandalorian's arm, the way comrades on Mandalore used to in the old days. Her way of saying Deal. They were not yet bound by battle or blood, but Scipio was like to change that, and who was to know what would happen beyond the Muun banking world. Perhaps she would visit Krownest with the Wren. Perhaps they would fight for Mandalore together.

"No business," Val said. "I do know a place we can stop for drinks when this is all over."

She spent the rest of the trip back to Song's ship telling her about a farm world on the far outskirts of the galaxy, where a clan of badgers liked to drink and whore and all the other things Mandalorians did these days, now that their homeworld was so far away. Of course, they would need to survive the Ice Vault first—no small task, to be sure. But Val was feeling good about this job, and that boded well for their odds.

Mostly. @Feng Mian